Crichton's commentary is really a benchmark. The propriety with which he covers the movie from almost every conceivable point of view is truly mesmerizing. Nothing that appears on the screen is small enough that that isn't able to make him tell historical trivia or background information, and always speaking in no hurry and without any hint of pedantry.

This track should be made required listening for any writer or director signed up to do an audio commentary. Crichton doesn't stop speaking for the duration and covers every aspect of the film imaginable - aesthetic, practical, conceptual, historical, anecdotal, political - you name it. He's scene-specific when he needs to be, and paints a comprehensive broader picture when he's not. Never unhurried, always casual yet incredibly well prepared - his experience as a novelist who fully researches his work is obviously brought to bear here, and it pays off in spades. THIS is how to do a commentary.